Therapeutic effect of okra mucilage against gastric mucosal injury in rats through angiogenesis pathway

Abstract Background The present research evaluates the gastro-protective activity of okra mucilage and its active constituents on aspirin-provoked gastric ulcers. The okra mucilage extract analyzed In-vitro for detection of its Bioactive contents. In a Bio-efficacy study, five groups of rats were divided as the following. In Aspirin group, rats were oral administered 500 mg/kg b.wt daily for 3 days to induce gastric lesions. Two doses of okra mucilage (100 & 500 mg/kg b.wt) and omeprazole (standard drug 20 mg/kg b.wt) were evaluated after aspirin administration for 14 days. After completion of the treatment, the animals were euthanized and examined for acid secretory parameters (gastric juice volume and total acidity), gastric pH, antiulcer parameters, serum analysis, biochemical analysis, and histological changes. Results Aspirin induces an increase in acid secretory parameters, gastric juice pH and ulcer index. Also, aspirin caused significant raise in TBRAS and NO contents accompanied with significant decrease in the GSH, SOD, and CAT. Furthermore, PDGF, bFGF, PGE2, and COX-1 decreased significantly in aspirin ulcerated group as compared with control group. Additionally, aspirin-induced gastric lesion showed by H&E and alcian blue stain. However, the treatment of ulcerated rats with okra mucilage (L&H) and omperazole modulate gastric acid secretion, attenuate the oxidative stress, replenish the gastric antioxidants markers, increase all angiogenesis and gastro-protective markers and thereby restore gastric tissue and mucin content significantly, as compared with ulcerated rats. Conclusion These results ascertain the therapeutic potential of okra as a new natural strategy for gastric ulcer diseases by its antioxidant activity, the maintenance of mucosal content and increasing angiogenesis markers levels.